Helping Armed Forces families build healthy routines beyond the winter months

24 January 2026

Winter and the start of a new year often prompt reflection on health and wellbeing. For Armed Forces families living overseas, maintaining healthy routines can be shaped by different environments, food availability and the pressures of service life.

Through its Community Health Team, SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity supports families overseas by focusing on practical, sustainable approaches to health that can be maintained throughout the year. Rather than short-term fixes, the emphasis is on building everyday habits that fit around family life.

In British Forces Cyprus, this includes dietetic support that helps families make informed, realistic choices about food and nutrition during the winter months and beyond. Guidance shared with families uses positive language around food, encouraging “everyday foods” and balanced meals rather than restriction, while recognising the importance of role modelling healthy habits at home.

Building routines together is a key part of this support. Families are encouraged to cook meals together, plan ahead to reduce stress, and find simple ways to add variety and balance to everyday meals. Practical advice also highlights the importance of key nutrients such as iron and calcium for children’s growth and development, as well as maintaining hydration during winter, when thirst can be overlooked.

Local context also plays an important role. In Cyprus, families are encouraged to make use of seasonal fruit and vegetables and affordable local produce, helping them build healthy meals using foods that are readily available. Resources developed and shared by the Community Health Team show how local foods can support a balanced diet while keeping meals practical and family friendly.

Rhianna Machen, Community Dietitian, Cyprus says, “Healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated. We focus on helping families build simple, positive habits around food, using everyday ingredients and routines that fit into family life. Small, realistic changes can make a real difference over time.”

Alongside clinical work, this public health preventative approach provides opportunities for families with young children to take part in interactive nutrition sessions such as Pots and Tots. These sessions bring parents and children together to cook simple, healthy recipes, explore topics such as fussy eating and early nutrition, and share experiences in a relaxed, supportive setting. By combining practical skills with social connection, these sessions help make healthy eating feel achievable rather than daunting.

By focusing on practical skills and realistic choices, SSAFA helps families build confidence around food and nutrition in ways that fit their daily lives.